Preview — Old Filth
by Jane Gardam

Sir Edward Feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in Southeast Asia, where he earned the nickname Old Filth (FILTH being an acronym for Failed In London Try Hong Kong) to his final working days as a respected judge at the English bar. Yet through it all he has carried with him the wounds of a difficult and emotionally hollow childhood. Now anSir Edward Feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in Southeast Asia, where he earned the nickname Old Filth (FILTH being an acronym for Failed In London Try Hong Kong) to his final working days as a respected judge at the English bar. Yet through it all he has carried with him the wounds of a difficult and emotionally hollow childhood. Now an eighty-year-old widower living in comfortable seclusion in Dorset, Feathers is finally free from the regimen of work and the sentimental scaffolding that has sustained him throughout his life. He slips back into the past with ever mounting frequency and intensity, and on the tide of these vivid, lyrical musings, Feathers approaches a reckoning with his own history. Not all the old filth, it seems, can be cleaned away.

Borrowing from biography and history, Jane Gardam has written a literary masterpiece reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling's Baa Baa, Black Sheep that retraces much of the twentieth century's torrid and momentous history. Feathers' childhood in Malaya during the British Empire's heyday, his schooling in pre-war England, his professional success in Southeast Asia and his return to England toward the end of the millennium, are vantage points from which the reader can observe the march forward of an eventful era and the steady progress of that man, Sir Edward Feathers, Old Filth himself, who embodies the century's fate.

Community Reviews

"His colleagues at the Bar called him Filth, but not out of irony. It was because he was considered to be the source of the old joke, Failed in London, Try in Hong Kong. It was said that he had fled the London Bar, very young, very poor, on a sudden whimjust after the War, and had done magnificently well in Hong Kong from the start. Being a modest man, they said, he called himself a parvenu, a fraud, a carefree spirit". "Filth in fact was no great maker of jokes, was not at all modest about hi "His colleagues at the Bar called him Filth, but not out of irony. It was because he was considered to be the source of the old joke, Failed in London, Try in Hong Kong. It was said that he had fled the London Bar, very young, very poor, on a sudden whimjust after the War, and had done magnificently well in Hong Kong from the start. Being a modest man, they said, he called himself a parvenu, a fraud, a carefree spirit". "Filth in fact was no great maker of jokes, was not at all modest about his work and seldom, except in great extremity, went in for whims. He was loved, however, admired, laughed at kindly and still much discussed many years after retirement." "Now, nearing eighty, he lived in Dorset. His wife Betty was dead but he often prattled on to her around the house".

Old Filth's, Sir Edward Feathers QC, life story is weaved with flashbacks referring to the marvelous life he has lived.....layered bittersweet events. He was born in Malaya, - his mother died in childbirth- and was sent to England as a child to be educated. His father had depression- partly a result from the Great War. Old Filth was raised by Foster Parents - and grew up with two cousins. Through his years of education- he earns the reputation for being a great lawyer and respected judge. At first glance - his peers think Old Filth had an easy lucky life ...who is somewhat aloof and stuffy in personality - a friendly - good looking man- and modest. None of them could have imagined his childhood.

Old Filth was one of many children 'sent home' to England to to get an education and be raised by foster parents. An orphan child. Most of these children came from wealthy privileged backgrounds. Their parents were in far off lands -India and Hong Kong. Their own parents were neglected them. We learn about a time in British history when the "Raj Orphans" were World known. Kids sent to "The Raj" came from international diplomats- parents in the military, etc. Through wonderful storytelling- we get an inside look into 'The Raj".... not something I had spent much time thinking about. I really felt that 'hollow' spot inside Old Filth... something he quietly lived - understandably so - starved for emotional intimacy - the wishes any child wants to feel with their 'own' parents.

This was such a treasure of a book.....the first in a series. Written with warm, humor, .... at times heavy hearted ---but mostly I marvel at the human spirit of "Old Filth". ...more

I bought Old Filth way back in 2008, when I only had a few hundred books in my library, when that library only increased by a few books each month, and when I had only been on Goodreads for a year or so and hadn't met most of you fine people and your shelves yet. It seemed interesting. Rather, it seemed like a good thing to read after John Williams' Stoner. But I didn't read it then, and so, five years later, my library approaching a thousand books with a few dozen added monthly and more added tI bought Old Filth way back in 2008, when I only had a few hundred books in my library, when that library only increased by a few books each month, and when I had only been on Goodreads for a year or so and hadn't met most of you fine people and your shelves yet. It seemed interesting. Rather, it seemed like a good thing to read after John Williams' Stoner. But I didn't read it then, and so, five years later, my library approaching a thousand books with a few dozen added monthly and more added to my wish lists every day, I nearly tossed Old Filth on the discard pile. Nearly. Combing my shelves and culling the stuff I didn't really want, just to delay that inevitable 1000-book milestone (if I haven't reached it already--I've been a bit lax about cataloging my stuff lately), used to be easy. But once I discard the books that only mildly interested me when I bought them years ago, and which don't really capture my attention now, I run into the ones that mildly interested me then and still, kinda, maaaaaybe interest me now, and what do I do about them? Do I toss them? Do I read them first? Try a few pages? Try a few more? Keep reading? Fall in love? Finish the book and give it a hug before returning it to the shelf? Wonder how the hell I managed to go so long without reading it and wonder how I could have possibly considered getting rid of it? Order the other two in the trilogy, thus adding to my library instead of shrinking it? And not regret any of it?

I'm not sure why I love Jane Gardam's writing as much as I do. She bowls me over. I'm hoping that it's more than the fact that she writes about the kind of people I grew up with; my background is solid upper middle class - strong emphasis on education, high parental expectations, all that good stuff, so that the academics, barristers, doctors and other professionals who populate her fiction form a milieu which is instantly recognizable to me. But it is more than that - she is a bloody good writeI'm not sure why I love Jane Gardam's writing as much as I do. She bowls me over. I'm hoping that it's more than the fact that she writes about the kind of people I grew up with; my background is solid upper middle class - strong emphasis on education, high parental expectations, all that good stuff, so that the academics, barristers, doctors and other professionals who populate her fiction form a milieu which is instantly recognizable to me. But it is more than that - she is a bloody good writer, creating indelible characters that stay with you in prose that is terrifically effective without ever calling attention to itself.

(OK. Let me go on the record, in case you haven't figured it out by now. I am not a particular fan of fiction that's clever/flashy/gimmicky because far more often than not it signals an author who's insecure, narcissistic, or both and is usually a harbinger of major deficiencies in important aspects like characterization and plot. I could name names, but the list would go on for days..)

Gardam's calm, self-assured style may have something to do with her late start as a writer - her first novel for adults was published when she was 50. When "Old Filth" came out, in 2004, she would have been 78. I enjoy imagining the scene when the inevitable request must have come from her publisher to come up with a more marketable title - her photos suggest a woman who doesn't suffer fools gladly. But in this case one has to think that there must have been a better title - "Old Filth" is a slightly offputting title which gives no indication of how terrific this book is.

FILTH is an acronym for "Failed in London, Try Hong Kong", which describes a particular sector of the British professional and civil service classes, with the not so subtle implication that those who chose to work in former outposts of the empire may not have done so as a first choice. The book is the story of Eddie Feathers, a successful Hong Kong barrister and so-called "Raj orphan", born in Malaya, orphaned, and returned to England to be educated. When the story opens, Feather is already retired; Gardam flashes back and forward along the timeline throughout the novel, so skillfully that it's never annoying. Although Eddie enjoys professional success, his emotional life is far more circumscribed and Gardam sketches its limits with subtlety, warmth and humor.

Even better, she continues the story in last year's "The Man in the Wooden Hat". While "Old Filth" explores the Feathers marriage (and the love triangle that prevents it from being emotionally fulfilling) from Eddie's viewpoint, the sequel presents events from the point of view of Betty, his wife. TMitWH accomplishes the amazing feat of not just matching the brilliance of OF, but improving on it.

The NY Times reviewer timesreview wonders how a writer of Jane Gardam's general awesomeness can remain neglected by U.S. readers who apparently find time to read the anemic maunderings of that one-note whiner Anita Brookner. To be honest, I'm a bit puzzled myself.

FILTH is an acronym for "Failed in London, Try Hong Kong". That's what his colleagues at the Bar called him, but not out of irony. And Eddie Feathers, or later in his life also known as Sir Edward Feathers, was one of the professional Brits landing up in the outposts of the British Empire. In his case, his parents were already there and he actually was born in Malaya (now Malaysia). His mother passed away after his birth, leaving a scared, emotionally unattached father to first hand him over toFILTH is an acronym for "Failed in London, Try Hong Kong". That's what his colleagues at the Bar called him, but not out of irony. And Eddie Feathers, or later in his life also known as Sir Edward Feathers, was one of the professional Brits landing up in the outposts of the British Empire. In his case, his parents were already there and he actually was born in Malaya (now Malaysia). His mother passed away after his birth, leaving a scared, emotionally unattached father to first hand him over to his carer, Ada, to live in her village, and then rescued by his aunt May and sent to England to become a proper Englishman. He became one of the Raj orphans in the British educational and foster care system.

The book starts out with judge Feathers retired and alone. He and his wife retired to Dorset in England after his long career in the East as barrister and judge."It had been said that he fled London Bar, very young, very poor, on a sudden whim just after the War, and had done magnificently well in Hong Kong from the start. Being a modest man, they said, he had called himself a parvenu, a fraud, a carefree spirit."

He was eighty-two-years old and ready to face his memories and past. He was wealthy and successful in his career, but lack emotional commitment to anybody and anything. On the surface he acted like an old curmudgeon, with very little known about his true feelings. But Betty, his late wife, understood him better than anyone, even though she never asked more of him than he was willing to give. Children was not asked. And not given.

He had married a Scotswoman but she had been born in Peking. She was dumpy and tweedy with broad Lanarkshire shoulders and square hands, but she spoke Mandarin perfectly and was much more at home with Chinese ways and idiom than she ever felt on her very rare visits to Scotland. Her passion for jewellery was Chinese and her strong Scottish fingers rattled the trays of jade in the street markets of Kowloon, stirring the stones like pebbles on a beach. “When you do that,” Old Filth would say—when they were young and he was still aware of her all the time—“your eyes are almond-shaped.” “Poor Old Betty,” he would say to her ghost across in another armchair in the house in Dorset

Old Filth begins to scramble his memories around to find the source of the person he had become. His childhood memories held an incident he could never discuss with anyone. He had to confront his memories of his foster parents, Ma and Didds, and for that he needed to complete circles with family and friends who left his life a long time ago. Only he knew why he did not see an irony in his nickname. He had to confess to a priest, although he was of the opinion that he did not need help to come to an end.

Bittersweet scenes, combined with humorous moments, made this an excellent read. The author presents a character study of a man who never felt he belonged, who always felt that he was left behind.

Like 'A Man Called Ove' by Frederik Backman, 'Major Pettigrew's Last Stand' by Helen Simonson, 'The Unlikely Pilgramage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce, and 'The Book Of Ebenezer Le Page' by G.B. Edwards, this book introduces a seemingly grumpy old loner to the world, who had a totally different story to tell when he finally decided to do so.

This book forms part of a series (trilogy?):Old Filth (Old Filth #1) The Man in the Wooden Hat (Old Filth #2) Last Friends (Old Filth #3)

Definitely recommended for the gentle reader who enjoys historical fiction....more

Reading this book at first I thought it was superlative, further on I simply thought it merely excellent, but by the end I suppose I felt it was just very good. Although I do wonder mildly quite what the Orange prize winner in 2005 was like if this was only one of the also rans.

Old Filth is an end of life story. The title is the nickname and old joke of the central character - Failed in London, try Hong Kong - a former judge, barrister, and abused child.

The novel's chapters alternate between theReading this book at first I thought it was superlative, further on I simply thought it merely excellent, but by the end I suppose I felt it was just very good. Although I do wonder mildly quite what the Orange prize winner in 2005 was like if this was only one of the also rans.

Old Filth is an end of life story. The title is the nickname and old joke of the central character - Failed in London, try Hong Kong - a former judge, barrister, and abused child.

The novel's chapters alternate between the present - the old man, funerals, visiting equally elderly relatives, ill health and worse acquaintances and his youth - birth in Malaya, farmed out to Wales, schooling, war time activities, post war qualification as a barrister.

I suppose my disenchantment had two completely unfair causes, firstly I got used to Gardam's technique, secondly there was eventually a fullish revelation of the Welsh childhood. Up until that point the Welsh childhood was elusive, coy, seductive, mysterious, like algebra one knew only through its absence, and the sense of how much an impact that this mysterious something had had on the lives of the characters. When the revelation came, I had that old 'is that it? Grphummpf' reaction. OK, I was missing the point, which was that there were a number of people involved and they all reacted differently to their experiences but the significance was the impact those experiences had on the rest of their lives - and that is something that Gardam makes us aware of. I can only plead before the court that reading is a subjective experience. As it happened Old Filth left his Black Cap behind in Hong Kong, hopefully Mme Gardam did the same.

Something else here was the brief aside about how child abuse was, to a greater extent than today, when at least it is something that is to some degree talked about as a problem, institutionalised in the Empire structures. One of the characters talks about the children's books she had as a child - full of pictures of children beating each other - the prefectorial system as it was called in emulation of old Sparta no doubt.

This is a British Empire novel (view spoiler)[but perhaps not just an Empire story, similar ones get told all the time (hide spoiler)], in the sense of impacts upon lives, families, generations, the hauteur and the moments of realisation "Blacks - here he was disturbed by a cluster of different coloured people surrounding his bed. These are not the black people of the Empire, he thought, and then realised that that was exactly what most of them were. 'Any of you chaps Malays?' he asked. 'Malaya's my country.'..." (p227). We might wonder in what way Malaya is his country - because Malay was the only language he spoke as a young child? Because he feels a degree of identification with it that despite for living a good chunk of his life in Britain and Hong Kong that he can't feel for either after his Welsh experience, or because he feels he possesses it in the old Empire way - or some mixture. Our feelings aren't so straightforward.

More to the point this is also a witty novel, I'm pleased to report that I disturbed my fellow travellers by immodesty laughing while enjoying this book - well that'll learn them to abandon book reading in favour of playing with their phones.

"'You can inflict pain through ignorance. I was not loved after the age of four and a half. Think of being a parent like that.''Yes. I suppose.''A parent like you, for instance, young woman. What child would want a parent like you?'She was furious. 'I was loved,' she said. 'I'm still loved by my parents, thank you very much. And I love them. We have - difficulties, but it's a normal family life.''Then I made a mistake,' he said, still not looking at her. 'Maybe it's your hair. It is so thin. I'm sorry.' (p159)

On the other hand I'm still divided, was having Old Filth fondly imaging Christ in court as a Barrister and then being confronted with the challenging reality of a priest, a clever comparison or too obvious? And what about the asides made by characters - 'sounds like a channel four play' as one person says of a conversation with another - is this meta-textual comment, modesty, or avoiding criticism about her dialogue writing skills? Is the revelation of the need for love at the end of the book profound or trite? While when we get the revelation that idea is just laid out almost as baldly as I stated it, but then again the groundwork had been done through the novel - we had seen the consequences that the want of love at an early age had - perhaps even across generations.

Read and judge for yourself, particularly if you are interested in empires because this gives a worms eye view of the Imperial endeavour what it is like to be brought up and live within the physical necessities and mental space of an empire. Throw the first stone if you think you're good enough, I'll pause and hold it for a while yet.

The British empire being what it was, my Paternal grandfather served in Malaysia during the so called communist insurgency and so my father and his sisters passed their younger years on the peninsula, before they all went, not to Wales, but to Woolwich< spoiler> which if you don't know it, is very much like Wales, except without sheep, mountains, choirs, leeks, abandoned slate mines, welsh people, chapels or daffodils, well it might have a few of the latter. Reading at first I thought I'd pass the book on to my Dad but gradually decided against it (view spoiler)[ always a bad sign when you think of the books that you can't give to a person (hide spoiler)]. Anyhow after his death and given both my naive belief in the immense reforming power of literature(view spoiler)[ & not just the Bible(hide spoiler)] and the general sense my paternal family gave off of limping around wounded I sent off a copy to my one surviving paternal aunt, her response in writing was one I ought really have predicted having read this novel: she felt there wasn't enough Malaysia in it....more

Marvelous. Great read! Why? Well, it is informative - it depicts the life of a Raj orphan, of which there were many. Through books such as this history becomes real, not just a subject of dates and numbers. I like learning as I read. Furthermore FILTH, the main character of the book, does not have an ordinary life, but as the author emphasizes everyone mistakenly thought he did. How often do we think that that person doesn't have our problems? Think if we only knew more about all these ordinaryMarvelous. Great read! Why? Well, it is informative - it depicts the life of a Raj orphan, of which there were many. Through books such as this history becomes real, not just a subject of dates and numbers. I like learning as I read. Furthermore FILTH, the main character of the book, does not have an ordinary life, but as the author emphasizes everyone mistakenly thought he did. How often do we think that that person doesn't have our problems? Think if we only knew more about all these ordinary people! How often do we truly know other people?

FILTH stands for "Failed In London Try Hong Kong" and he was employed in the British Legal system. This is a man who truly believes in justice, whatever that is! This is a man who did his best to live a worthy life regardless of the difficulties life threw at him. Some authors love misery and almost regale in it, but Gardam although depicting very difficult circumstances, shows how humans can struggle through. Each character found their own way to survive. Succes/survival is never a defined unvaried solution. There is never only one way to achieve it. The diversity of people and how we each deal with life is amazing....more

"Old Filth" is one of those critically approbated books that I feel I "should" like more than I actually did. Detailing the life of Sir Edward Feathers, a distinguished advocate and judge, Jane Gardam presents a detailed character study of a man who is, quite literally, a foreigner in his own life.

I respect Gardam's economic prose as well as her Dickensian cast of characters. The problem is that I simply did not "connect" to the novel. I admired it, but I simply didn't enjoy my time with it. Ol"Old Filth" is one of those critically approbated books that I feel I "should" like more than I actually did. Detailing the life of Sir Edward Feathers, a distinguished advocate and judge, Jane Gardam presents a detailed character study of a man who is, quite literally, a foreigner in his own life.

I respect Gardam's economic prose as well as her Dickensian cast of characters. The problem is that I simply did not "connect" to the novel. I admired it, but I simply didn't enjoy my time with it. Old Filth is a fascinating hybrid of heart-rending pathos and humanistic comedy, a novel that will (and has) appealed to a great many people. For me, though, it was a respectable, but unaffecting piece of writing....more

Captivating. One of the most rewarding things about reading is discovering a character, a piece of history, a perhaps arcane bit of information that somehow finds its way into your life, even if it just leads you to another great book. Old Filth was the first time I had ever heard the term "Raj Orphans," referring to the children of British citizens posted in Asia during Britain's rule who were sent back to England (or Wales, or Scotland, etc.) to be raised by distant family members or foster faCaptivating. One of the most rewarding things about reading is discovering a character, a piece of history, a perhaps arcane bit of information that somehow finds its way into your life, even if it just leads you to another great book. Old Filth was the first time I had ever heard the term "Raj Orphans," referring to the children of British citizens posted in Asia during Britain's rule who were sent back to England (or Wales, or Scotland, etc.) to be raised by distant family members or foster families. Fascinating piece of history that makes me want to read more about this period. This novel is hugely entertaining, as well, with a nice little mystery at its core as an added bonus. ...more

Update - 10/29 - It has been a couple days since I've finished Old Filth which I thought was quite good, but not special or memorable. Yet.... Old Filth has been stalking me. Eddie Feathers keeps popping into my head. I'm been thinking about his childhood, poor Eddie. Wondering about Betty. I think this novel is stronger than I initially thought. I'm changing to a solid 4 stars.

3.5 stars - Intelligent, witty, enjoyable. But no superlatives for Old Filth

I first heard about this book on one of those recommended reading lists one comes across at the beginning of the summer. Not sure who exactly it was who recommended it, maybe Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post or maybe someone from NPR, maybe both. Whoever it was, the book sounded interesting, so I added it to my list of books to read. Recently, on a trip to my public library, I stopped at a display bookcase entitled “Find a good book to curl up with” and there it was. It didn’t have to invit I first heard about this book on one of those recommended reading lists one comes across at the beginning of the summer. Not sure who exactly it was who recommended it, maybe Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post or maybe someone from NPR, maybe both. Whoever it was, the book sounded interesting, so I added it to my list of books to read. Recently, on a trip to my public library, I stopped at a display bookcase entitled “Find a good book to curl up with” and there it was. It didn’t have to invite me twice; I took it home.

We are introduced to our eponymous hero with the tiniest bit of a dramatic scene, which takes place in the lunchroom of the courts where we hear several people talk about Old Filth, a retired judge whom they have just seen. The remarks are largely positive, leading readers to like the character even before we meet him. We also learn that he is called Old Filth because he invented the word FILTH, an acronym standing for Failed in London, Try Hong Kong. (And he was an attorney in Hong Kong for many years before he returned to England to be a judge.) As we get into the novel proper, we learn more about Old Filth, Sir Edward Feathers, who was born in Malaya to English parents. His mother died when he was three days old, and his father showed little or no interest in him. At three days old he was sent to live in a Malaysian village with his wet nurse and stayed there until he was four and a half, living as a native Malaysian. At that point an emissary from his father (she was a missionary who persuaded his father to let her remove young Edward from the care of his Malaysian family) comes to accompany him “Home” (to England) where he is placed in foster care with a Welsh family until he is old enough to be sent off to an English boarding school.

The book begins with Sir Edward in old age, a widower living in retirement in Dorset. And we learn his whole life story in flashbacks, in jumps and starts, filling us in on his history, telling us parts and keeping some parts for later. It is Jane Gardam’s brilliant writing that makes this novel so worth reading and this out-of-order narrative so totally unconfusing. I found myself completely drawn into this story, set in the end days of the British colonies, about this man, who is a Raj Orphan (a British child sent alone from the Asian colony where his parents live to be brought up back “home” in Britain), both so British and so Malaysian he does not really fit anywhere comfortably, although he thinks he fits everywhere comfortably. The way the story is told actually made me more and more interested as I read about Sir Edward. He is a supremely interesting and complicated character even though he lacks self-knowledge and seems unaware of so much going on around him. His relationship with his wife Betty seems friendly, even though Gardam lets us know directly that Betty has found love elsewhere. There are clues Sir Edward should have picked up on about Betty, but he does not. His ability to protect himself from what he does not want to know seems almost omnipotent. He remains cheerful much of the time. It is as if his Raj Orphan life, which he takes so for granted, has made him unable to face himself or any one else. Yet, instead of seeing him as a pathetic character, I became both sympathetic with him and more and more interested in his story. In fact, I am so taken with this character and Jane Gardam as his storyteller, that I will soon be looking for the next two books in this trilogy: The Man in the Wooden Hat and Last Friends. Can’t wait to see more about these characters through the eyes of Betty and of Terry Veneering, another Hong Kong attorney of British heritage who ends up retiring right next door to Sir Edward in Dorset.

I loved this book. I picked it up thinking the title looked like fun and found myself instead in a book about emotional constriction and concealments in the lives of retired judge Sir Edward Feathers (Old Filth himself), his wife Betty and the third main character, Veneering.While the story has tragic elements that other writers might turn into sentimental slush, Gardam maintains a superb balance between tragedy and comedy, making this book about displaced lives very easy to read, profoundly movI loved this book. I picked it up thinking the title looked like fun and found myself instead in a book about emotional constriction and concealments in the lives of retired judge Sir Edward Feathers (Old Filth himself), his wife Betty and the third main character, Veneering.While the story has tragic elements that other writers might turn into sentimental slush, Gardam maintains a superb balance between tragedy and comedy, making this book about displaced lives very easy to read, profoundly moving and funny all at the same time. She has a great gift for dry humour, which is sometimes so gentle that it can almost be missed, and sometimes so sharp you gasp.This book, published in 2004, was reviewed as Gardam's 'masterpiece' in the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2004...It was shortlisted for the Orange Prize, and lost to Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin.Later reviews for the second and third volumes in what has turned out to be a trilogy have referred to it as Gardam's masterpiece as a whole. Here is the TLS 2013 of the third volume Last Friends.http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/a......more

For those of us who reveled in The Raj Quartet mini-series back in the 1980's, this is a gift. It tells the tale of a barrister who returns to England to die after having spent his adulthood in Hong Kong in the aftermath of the British Empire. In a series of flashbacks (the plot is not linear), we learn about his troubled childhood, first as a motherless child in Malaysia and then as a Raj orphan. Edward Feathers, nicknamed Filth (failed in London, try Hong Kong) is a legend in his professionFor those of us who reveled in The Raj Quartet mini-series back in the 1980's, this is a gift. It tells the tale of a barrister who returns to England to die after having spent his adulthood in Hong Kong in the aftermath of the British Empire. In a series of flashbacks (the plot is not linear), we learn about his troubled childhood, first as a motherless child in Malaysia and then as a Raj orphan. Edward Feathers, nicknamed Filth (failed in London, try Hong Kong) is a legend in his professional life but he can't seem to find satisfaction or intimacy in his private life. As he confronts a lonely old age he begins to ruminate on the past. His quest to understand himself assumes global implications as he embarks upon a series of journeys, both into his past and toward an uncertain future. As a character, Filth seems to encompass all the contradictions of the British Empire. His story is filled with evocative narrative sweep and personal triumphs and tragedies. It is immensely satisfying.

Old Filth (aka Eddie, the Judge, Fevvers, Filth, Master of the Inner Temple, Teddy and Sir Edward Feather), is a wonderful creation through which to encapsulate a lengthy period: from the glory days of British Empire, through WW2, and into the present day.

Old Filth (aka Eddie, the Judge, Fevvers, Filth, Master of the Inner Temple, Teddy and Sir Edward Feather), is a wonderful creation through which to encapsulate a lengthy period: from the glory days of British Empire, through WW2, and into the present day.

Jane Gardam is an unshowy, self assured writer, and a consummate storyteller. Her diverse characters are all understated and credible, and yet wholly memorable too. Don't be put off by the title. FILTH being an acronym for "Failed in London, Try Hong Kong". Apparently, former outposts of the British Empire were the stamping ground for those who could not cut it back in the mother country.

'Old Filth' is cleverly structured. Hoping backwards and forwards in time, and slowly revealing more about the primary characters, until we reach the denouement, which explains much about the characters and how they behave.

The less you know about the plot the better. However, please be assured that 'Old Filth' is a real treat, and I cannot wait to read more of Jane Gardam's work.

As soon as I finished this book, I went back to Amazon to try to figure out why I read it. Yep, 33 5 star reviews and 3 4's and nothing else. When I was half way through it, a new Carl Hiaasen book landed on my desk, and I was sorely tempted to jump ship (you know, life is too short...). But then I thought about all those 5 star reviews, and the glowing quotes on the back of the book, and I thought, well maybe it gets better, I'll just race through the rest. Sadly, it didn't get any better, althAs soon as I finished this book, I went back to Amazon to try to figure out why I read it. Yep, 33 5 star reviews and 3 4's and nothing else. When I was half way through it, a new Carl Hiaasen book landed on my desk, and I was sorely tempted to jump ship (you know, life is too short...). But then I thought about all those 5 star reviews, and the glowing quotes on the back of the book, and I thought, well maybe it gets better, I'll just race through the rest. Sadly, it didn't get any better, although at least there was a little surprise revelation.

The sense I got from the book, corroborated by the reviews, is that you're most likely to like this book if something in it resonates with you. That probably means you're British, or know what it's like to be British, you love British war history, you know something about the "Raj orphans", you are very old and rue your life, you are unhinged by your wife dying although it can't be said you loved her, you never really knew your father who probably didn't want to know you, you've spent your entire life regretting something, you find your life pointless, your sex life has consisted only of a couple of brief, meaningless incidents, you are wealthy and that's all anybody can remember about you, you cannot really connect with people on any level, or you've only met one interesting person in your entire life.

This is a very British book--and it is one of the best novels I have read in the past 10 years. I will put it up there with Atonement--but can't really compare the two as Old Filth has much more wit and humor along with the pathos. In other words, it made me laugh and cry. It's is such a celebration of good writing--and the story is compelling enough that after a very brief slow start, I was carried along with the story and found it hard to put down for two days.Old Filth is an acronym for FaileThis is a very British book--and it is one of the best novels I have read in the past 10 years. I will put it up there with Atonement--but can't really compare the two as Old Filth has much more wit and humor along with the pathos. In other words, it made me laugh and cry. It's is such a celebration of good writing--and the story is compelling enough that after a very brief slow start, I was carried along with the story and found it hard to put down for two days.Old Filth is an acronym for Failed in London, try Hong Kong--and is the affectionate nickname for an elderly, famous barrister who is looking back on his life (real name, Edward Feathers). Feathers was a Raj orphan (those children who were sent back to England at age 4 or 5 to be raised by others while their parents where working in India or the far east). He is emotionally closed and you don't find out why until the last part of the book--to the outsider his life looked successful yet uneventful--but to us, the readers, we see what his life really was and hear his innermost thoughts-- This is a wonderful book--...more

I really enjoyed this book - it is a British book, so there is quite a bit of uncommon (to Americans) vocabulary, but don't let it put you off, it is a bit like seeing a British film, once you just sit back and relax about it and don't worry about what each word means, you will thoroughly enjoy it. The story is wonderful and the manner in which it is written, between the past and the present, is well done. Don't let the title put you off, either. You will quickly learn that Filth stands for FailI really enjoyed this book - it is a British book, so there is quite a bit of uncommon (to Americans) vocabulary, but don't let it put you off, it is a bit like seeing a British film, once you just sit back and relax about it and don't worry about what each word means, you will thoroughly enjoy it. The story is wonderful and the manner in which it is written, between the past and the present, is well done. Don't let the title put you off, either. You will quickly learn that Filth stands for Failed In London Try Hong kong (FILTH), so don't mistakenly assume it is about a dirty old man! It is a wonderful tale with great characters and plot twists you will be surprised with and enjoy....more

I'm reading it through a second time! It's incredible how many little secrets are hidden that I did NOT notice the first time. Well, of course, the first time I did not know to what those little nuggets were referring and now I do. It is almost better the second time around - or at least I'm appreciating the depth of it more.

This is one of those books that I didn't enjoy reading that much, BUT I did and do really appreciate it in the overall and in retrospect. I think the author was really taleI'm reading it through a second time! It's incredible how many little secrets are hidden that I did NOT notice the first time. Well, of course, the first time I did not know to what those little nuggets were referring and now I do. It is almost better the second time around - or at least I'm appreciating the depth of it more.

This is one of those books that I didn't enjoy reading that much, BUT I did and do really appreciate it in the overall and in retrospect. I think the author was really talented and that she was very creative in her structuring of the novel. The book has a lot to it. It unpeels like an onion, but from two different directions. The name is interesting, too, because it definitely has a double meaning.. outwardly an acronym for "Failed in London Try Hong Kong," but also, and more importantly I think, meaning dirty, grubby secrets that are festering and are basically at the heart of the main character's personality. The other thing that forms the main character, in addition to his 'dirty secret," is the fact that he's a Raj orphan. That whole idea is one I really knew nothing about. Yet another horror of British colonialism. Along with the seriousness of the events in the book, there is an offsetting wit and humor, too. ...more

I liked old Filth because it tells a story I never heard before. The main character is English, though born in Malasia. It seems that children were frequently schooled in England with little or no contact with their parents. I've watched lots of PBS series which took place in Asia and everyone was so English. I didn't realize that many families were sliced open and then glued back.This novel tells of the trauma this practice can cause. It also hints of a mystery. There is a lot of foreboding, buI liked old Filth because it tells a story I never heard before. The main character is English, though born in Malasia. It seems that children were frequently schooled in England with little or no contact with their parents. I've watched lots of PBS series which took place in Asia and everyone was so English. I didn't realize that many families were sliced open and then glued back.This novel tells of the trauma this practice can cause. It also hints of a mystery. There is a lot of foreboding, but little explanation. Feathers, the main character, has an intense antagonism with an old colleague. Feathers's wife, Betty, and her old friends are characters, but they are also unsettling. Why would Betty bury pearls?This reminded me of Finkler's Question. Feathers is telling his past and his present. This is interesting, but sort of a down.

I was skeptical at first, but it really is a brilliant book: the plotting, characters, and description all come together just right. I'm not going to re-hash the plot, which can be found elsewhere, except that I'm now quite curious as to whether Gardam always intended the "sequel" to cover the Hong Kong years (barely touched on here), before starting this one, or whether she started this one first, and later decided: "Rather than making this one into an opus, I'll do a separate Hong Kong one (frI was skeptical at first, but it really is a brilliant book: the plotting, characters, and description all come together just right. I'm not going to re-hash the plot, which can be found elsewhere, except that I'm now quite curious as to whether Gardam always intended the "sequel" to cover the Hong Kong years (barely touched on here), before starting this one, or whether she started this one first, and later decided: "Rather than making this one into an opus, I'll do a separate Hong Kong one (from Betty's point-of-view)."?

I'm truly glad I waited for the audio version to be published - the narrator handles it all well - from stuffy school dons to Filth's friend's Chinese accent....more

One of the best uses of flashback that I can remember. Immensely wise, this is the bittersweet story of an old man's life. Gradually Gardam reveals the successes and failures of Eddie Feathers, his astonishing luck and balance amid life's rough seas. We come to respect his judgement, appreciate his wit, and thank him for his humanity. We love him for forgiving the infidelities of his wife, and for his embrace of his arch nemesis. We miss him at the end. One of the great characters of British litOne of the best uses of flashback that I can remember. Immensely wise, this is the bittersweet story of an old man's life. Gradually Gardam reveals the successes and failures of Eddie Feathers, his astonishing luck and balance amid life's rough seas. We come to respect his judgement, appreciate his wit, and thank him for his humanity. We love him for forgiving the infidelities of his wife, and for his embrace of his arch nemesis. We miss him at the end. One of the great characters of British literature today.

We first see eighty-year-old Feathers in retirement in Dorset, England after a long career at the bar in Hong Kong. Careful reasoning on illustrious cases earns him a reputation at home and abroad and he is known to all by the sobriquet "Old Filth" (Failed in London, Try Hong Kong), a term usually reserved for a group of people. His mind drifts back over chapters in his life that formed and directed him, and we see him reason, and change. A remarkable performance which should earn Jane Gardam well-deserved respect and a large audience....more

This witty novel was inspired by Rudyard Kipling's life as a "Raj orphan," that is, a British child born in the Eastern empire and shipped back home to be raised by surrogate parents. Old Filth, Edward Feathers, one such "orphan," is now in his 80s and living in England after a successful career as a barrister in Hong Kong. We first meet Old Filth (filth standing for "failed in London, try Hong Kong") snoozing in a chair at the Inner Temple being observed by some young barristers who comment thaThis witty novel was inspired by Rudyard Kipling's life as a "Raj orphan," that is, a British child born in the Eastern empire and shipped back home to be raised by surrogate parents. Old Filth, Edward Feathers, one such "orphan," is now in his 80s and living in England after a successful career as a barrister in Hong Kong. We first meet Old Filth (filth standing for "failed in London, try Hong Kong") snoozing in a chair at the Inner Temple being observed by some young barristers who comment that Filth's work was his life and not much else happened to him. However, in the course of the novel, which moves between past and present, we find that Filth's personal life has been full of incident and makes compelling reading. (Mary B., Reader's Services) ...more

FILTH is an acronym for Failed in London, Try Hong Kong. Old Filth, Sir Edward Feathers, is a retired, rather famous judge. He and his wife return to England for their retirement.

This book is comic in parts, but also poignant. Edward was what is known as a "Raj orphan." His mother died in childbirth and after several years of living with a native family in Malaysia, Edward is sent to live in Wales with a woman who abuses him. Edward's father never sees him, so Edward grows up without affection iFILTH is an acronym for Failed in London, Try Hong Kong. Old Filth, Sir Edward Feathers, is a retired, rather famous judge. He and his wife return to England for their retirement.

This book is comic in parts, but also poignant. Edward was what is known as a "Raj orphan." His mother died in childbirth and after several years of living with a native family in Malaysia, Edward is sent to live in Wales with a woman who abuses him. Edward's father never sees him, so Edward grows up without affection in his life and becomes a very emotionally stunted man. He skirts his way around the edges of life. He was quite successful in his career, but completely clueless and dry in human relationships....more

I enjoyed this, though not as much as some of my GR friends did. It's written in an entertaining, amusing (even sometimes breezy) style, but also with insight as to what it might've been like to be a Raj orphan -- that was the most interesting aspect of the book to me, as I've read lots of novels set in the Raj and post-Raj time periods but none that focus on that issue.

The book lost me, for some reason, along the way, around the time Queen Mary is introduced, and I think the sect3 and 1/2 stars

I enjoyed this, though not as much as some of my GR friends did. It's written in an entertaining, amusing (even sometimes breezy) style, but also with insight as to what it might've been like to be a Raj orphan -- that was the most interesting aspect of the book to me, as I've read lots of novels set in the Raj and post-Raj time periods but none that focus on that issue.

The book lost me, for some reason, along the way, around the time Queen Mary is introduced, and I think the sections with Loss might've benefited from being just a tad less breezy. Despite that, I'd definitely read Gardam again....more

Being a colonial, I picked this book up out of curiosity as it was supposed to be about Raj Orphans, that curious breed of British children born in the colonies, who blended in easily with their tropical environment before being yanked rudely back to the cold and damp mother country for the sake of their education by equally cold and distant parents.

The legacy bestowed on the Raj Orphan is a mixture of loneliness, secrets, formality and the lack of passion. All this is embodied in the protagonisBeing a colonial, I picked this book up out of curiosity as it was supposed to be about Raj Orphans, that curious breed of British children born in the colonies, who blended in easily with their tropical environment before being yanked rudely back to the cold and damp mother country for the sake of their education by equally cold and distant parents.

The legacy bestowed on the Raj Orphan is a mixture of loneliness, secrets, formality and the lack of passion. All this is embodied in the protagonist, Sir Edward Feathers, or Old Filth as he is known for his failure to make it professionally in London, although he rises to become a judge in Hong Kong with the help of a fellow Raj Orphan whom he befriended on a sea voyage years ago. “Failed In London Try Hongkong” = Filth - check out the acronym!

The story line veers between Filth’s childhood (circa 1920’s), youth and early adulthood during WWII, and his octogenarian years when he is living as a retired judge and widower in England. The older Filth is remembering his early life and is plagued by the guilt of a tragic incident that took place in his first foster home in Wales when he was 8 years old. He wonders if his misdeed has led to his life of isolation. But it involves more than that: it is the horror of WWI (described as “a set piece of butchery”) and what it did to his distant father, it is the yoke of Empire and the burden of duty it places upon its officials sent to the far reaches of the realm to maintain law, order and good government, it is the rootlessness of children who are plucked out of an idyllic tropical existence and dumped in a cold, loveless motherland and told, “This is your home. This is England.” Filth is also childless, adding to his loneliness, for Empire orphans do not want to have children due to their own empty childhoods.

Despite the bleak subject matter, the narrative is injected with wry humour and pithy observations. The writing is crisp; a word or a phrase says a lot, and the author covers great narrative distances in a few sentences. And perhaps that is also the book’s shortcoming, for it tries to cover too much ground in about 250 pages, while making accommodation for digressions that have very little bearing on the protagonist: e.g. Clair and Oliver’s drive to Cambridge University, a discussion on suitcases, and so on.

I also found a few historical inaccuracies. I don’t believe there were Japanese flags flying all over Colombo on the eve of that island being bombed by Japan. Nor do I believe that the harbour was clogged with evacuees from Singapore; it was more likely congested with traffic due to the re-positioning of the British Naval Fleet from Singapore to Ceylon. The author also takes licence with British history and has a young Filth protecting Queen Mary during the war in England. The queen is more of a mother to him than any of his relatives or foster parents. The humour makes all this palatable.

I took away a few powerful messages from this book: “Memory and Desire - without them life is pointless.” The aging Filth is losing both and is looking towards a scary existence. British reticence and stoicism are on display, revealed in the following exchange between the Ingolbys, Filth’s surrogate parents in England, on the eve of the outbreak of WWII:

“Thinking of buying a cow.”“A cow, dear?”“There will be no powdered milk, no butter. It’ll be rationed. Forces first.”

"Less is more," they say, and this book attempts that, in places. Most of all, it confirms that those who are abandoned emotionally will also abandon, and will be emotionally cheated upon. For all the pomp and glory of empire, the realm’s bequest to its loyal servants is far less than its lofty promise.

If I am limited to recommend only one book, I urge you to read these two books. Jane Gardem writes prose that begins gently, invitingly, leading you to the next page and the next, never permitting you to notice that you have been drawn in to her story because all the while you read a part of your mind is asking whether ‘that could have been me….’ Old Filth has almost nothing to do with filth but, rather, is the life revisited of a British attorney who Failed in London, Tried Hong Kong. Sir EdwarIf I am limited to recommend only one book, I urge you to read these two books. Jane Gardem writes prose that begins gently, invitingly, leading you to the next page and the next, never permitting you to notice that you have been drawn in to her story because all the while you read a part of your mind is asking whether ‘that could have been me….’ Old Filth has almost nothing to do with filth but, rather, is the life revisited of a British attorney who Failed in London, Tried Hong Kong. Sir Edward Feathers’ history begins the day his soul dies, not in a courtroom, not in his childhood as an orphan of English empire, but on the day he and his wife Betty fail to execute their wills. Their own lawyer having missed the appointment, he and Betty return to their retirement cottage in the country, each with his and her own thoughts, unfortunately dwelling on slights received from the other, when – Betty dies in her garden. For the first time in his life, Feathers must consider what Betty has been to him in their long and childless marriage. He begins by blaming her for dying and thereby leaving him to cope on his own with the remainder of his life. An orphan whose own parents had more or less abandoned him to English boarding schools from their post as administrators in Malaysia, Feathers reminisces about his own life, his primary school, friends lost in the war, a narrow escape, a life that no matter how fortunate he was, he views as a series of abandonments. And, at the end, he cannot understand why Betty had been so unhappy over the news that the son of his bitterest, most longstanding adversary, had died. Standing alone, Old Filth was a finalist for the Orange Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in literature. However, Ms. Gardem goes beyond permitting Edward Feathers to live and die alone. She returns to the scene in The Man in the Wooden Hat, and the scene to which she returns is not Betty’s death, but her marriage – to Old Filth. In this parallel-quel, Ms. Gardem recalls through Betty’s eyes every stage of Feathers’ life, events and people only hinted at and histories left unexplained by Old Filth. And, even though they knew each other briefly before wedding, their lives often had intersected beforehand and the intersections would continue to map their lives afterward. With counsel from her friend Isobel, a warning from Feathers’ oddly invisible colleague Albert Ross, and an inexplicable fascination with the very young son of Feathers’ adversary, Betty sets aside her doubts and proceeds to marry a man who, in the event, becomes her partner in life but, rarely, her lover, or rarer still, her intimate, and, never, the father of the children she had wanted. To say more would be to say too much.His story. Her story. And, before you have realized it, impressions of our own stories, not our marriages or love affairs or biographies, but of lives’ paths and decisions made young. Almost never do we perform the parts of the plays we have written for ourselves. These novels remind us that in all of our roles, the value of the play will not be revealed until the end. And, through her elegant skill, Jane Gardem graces every reader with literature that before one’s eyes has progressed from slender and gentle vignettes to reveal a magnificent, gripping, and rewarding story told in two novels....more

This wasn't what I expected at all. The title of the book (Filth is an acronym "Failed In London, Try Hong kong"), the back cover blurb and even the prologue had me anticipating something along the lines of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman books; a morally deficient yet likeable rascal and his adventures throughout key historical episodes of the 20th century. Though Old Filth is very funny at times, the book itself is much more serious and contemplative than that.

Sir Edward Feathers has retireThis wasn't what I expected at all. The title of the book (Filth is an acronym "Failed In London, Try Hong kong"), the back cover blurb and even the prologue had me anticipating something along the lines of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman books; a morally deficient yet likeable rascal and his adventures throughout key historical episodes of the 20th century. Though Old Filth is very funny at times, the book itself is much more serious and contemplative than that.

Sir Edward Feathers has retired to the United Kingdom after a hugely successful career as a lawyer and judge in Hong Kong. He's immensely wealthy and a legend of his profession (the nickname Old Filth, which Sir Edward gave himself, is meant to be humbling and somewhat ironic), and it's assumed by all that he'll settle happily into retirement with his wife in rural England. The quietude of his dotage rouses old memories and old ghosts for Filth, though, and he begins to look back on his life and wonder at the shape of it all.

The thing this book does really well is to get across the idea that nobody but ourselves will ever truly know our own life story. To the outside world, Filth seems like a wealthy gentleman who used the benefits of his birth and money to launch a successful career. Even to close friends and family, to those that know him best (and several character make that claim throughout the story), key episodes of Filth's life remain a secret. His intense loneliness, the extreme hardships of his youth as a Raj Orphan (a British subject born in Asia during the Empire period, and shipped home to be raised by foster parents for a "proper" education), the friends, lovers, enemies, Sir Edward is forced to confront them all. There's actually very little time spent on his time in Hong Kong, though that period encapsulated the largest part of Filth's life, and is the place he truly thinks of as home. Instead the story alternates between the present day (2002, when Filth is approaching 80) and his childhood in Malaysia and England before and during WWII, gradually building towards certain revelations concerning Filth's four year stay with a foster parent in Wales that, it is implied, treated him very badly.

Filth himself is a great character. A child of the British Empire, he is as filled with contradictions as the Empire itself, and he's spent the greater part of his life watching that Empire crumble. And Gardam is a very confident and clear writer, guiding you through Filth's life in a crazy, non-linear fashion that never gets confusing and always retains a clear through-line, building towards the bittersweet conclusion....more

Filth stands for "Failed In London, Try Hong kong." It's a story about an old British lawyer and judge who dispersed justice in Hong Kong, India and other former Far East colonies of the Empire, although his work was mentioned briefly, only as an afterthought to outline his outstanding reputation as a lawmaker. He retires with his wife to Dorset, she dies (while planting tulips in the garden) and that sends him to revisit people and places from his childhood and youth. Through these travels, theFilth stands for "Failed In London, Try Hong kong." It's a story about an old British lawyer and judge who dispersed justice in Hong Kong, India and other former Far East colonies of the Empire, although his work was mentioned briefly, only as an afterthought to outline his outstanding reputation as a lawmaker. He retires with his wife to Dorset, she dies (while planting tulips in the garden) and that sends him to revisit people and places from his childhood and youth. Through these travels, the fragmented story of his early life is being told, flashing back and forth from WW2 time to present. Finally, a dark secret (which somehow doesn't seem neither dark nor horrific) is revealed, but by then the reader is so numb of all the pre and post-war Britishness that it feels anticlimactic. Old Filth reminds me of Love in the Time of Cholera, British version.

NPR book reviewers call Gardam the best British author you've never heard of. Call me demanding, but this book left me indifferent. I am not sure I'll give her a second chance....more

This book reminded me a bit of The God of Small Things in that the story was told in a seemingly random order. I found this pretty confusing through most of the book, and though I did come to appreciate its brilliance, I'm giving it a lukewarm three stars because I found the confusion alienating.

This book tells the story of Eddie Feathers, whose nickname "Filth" stands for "failed in London try Hong Kong." (Incidentally, the distance between Edward and his wife notwithstanding, it required someThis book reminded me a bit of The God of Small Things in that the story was told in a seemingly random order. I found this pretty confusing through most of the book, and though I did come to appreciate its brilliance, I'm giving it a lukewarm three stars because I found the confusion alienating.

This book tells the story of Eddie Feathers, whose nickname "Filth" stands for "failed in London try Hong Kong." (Incidentally, the distance between Edward and his wife notwithstanding, it required some suspension of disbelief for me to accept that she called him "Filth" rather than Eddie, even in her mind.) Feathers was a Raj orphan, i.e., the child of a British official working in a colony (Malaysia in this case), sent to England to be raised by a foster family. After Feathers' foster care experience ends abruptly and somewhat mysteriously when he is eight years old, he is raised in boarding schools and has a series of adventures before eventually becoming a successful judge in Hong Kong.

The book has some definite strengths. As Susan pointed out, the title character is well fleshed out as a flawed individual who is still willing to make improvements in his character toward the end of his life. Raj orphans are a population I don't think about much, and this book raised my consciousness of that experience. The book was readable, if confusing. But the confusion took me out of the story too much, which is why I'm giving it three stars instead of the higher rating which it probably deserves, and would likely earn from a more prescient reader....more

As Eddie Feathers enters his last days he, like the narrator of Julian Barnes's SENSE OF AN ENDING, feels compelled to revisit the places and people that formed him and locked him tight within himself. His deeply hurtful fictional biography mirrors the final period of the British Empire. Eddie's "club" is not dissimilar from Dickens's clusters of odd and grotesque characters who keep finding each other as if they came from a small village. And as disparate as Eddie's experiences are, from abandoAs Eddie Feathers enters his last days he, like the narrator of Julian Barnes's SENSE OF AN ENDING, feels compelled to revisit the places and people that formed him and locked him tight within himself. His deeply hurtful fictional biography mirrors the final period of the British Empire. Eddie's "club" is not dissimilar from Dickens's clusters of odd and grotesque characters who keep finding each other as if they came from a small village. And as disparate as Eddie's experiences are, from abandoned boy, to fostered child, to delusionally happy houseguest, to high-achieving school boy, Oxford grad, solicitor, and finally to FILTH, failed in London Try Hong Kong, this handsome but apparently infertile man winds up rich, with a long marriage, and commended and jeered by his contemporaries. If this all rings true, it is because we have all had our hurts and triumphs, even if not on a global scale.Gardam writes beautifully and with tenderness and wit, carrying the story backwards, deeper and deeper, until Old Filth finally craters trying to re-enter his first world....more

Jane Mary Gardam OBE is a British author of children's and adult fiction. She also reviews for the Spectator and the Telegraph, and writes for BBC radio. She lives in Kent, Wimbledon and Yorkshire. She has won numerous literary awards including the Whitbread Award, twice. She is mother of Tim Gardam, Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford. Jane has been awarded the Heywood Hill Literary Prize forJane Mary Gardam OBE is a British author of children's and adult fiction. She also reviews for the Spectator and the Telegraph, and writes for BBC radio. She lives in Kent, Wimbledon and Yorkshire. She has won numerous literary awards including the Whitbread Award, twice. She is mother of Tim Gardam, Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford. Jane has been awarded the Heywood Hill Literary Prize for a lifetime’s contribution to the enjoyment of literature and has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Her first book for adults, Black Faces, White Faces (1975), a collection of linked short stories about Jamaica, won both the David Higham Prize for Fiction and the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize. Subsequent collections of short stories include The Pangs of Love and Other Stories (1983), winner of the Katherine Mansfield Award; Going into a Dark House (1994), which was awarded the PEN/Macmillan Silver Pen Award (1995); and Missing the Midnight: Hauntings & Grotesques (1997).

Jane Gardam's first novel for adults, God on the Rocks (1978), a coming-of-age novel set in the 1930s, was adapted for television in 1992. It won the Prix Baudelaire (France) in 1989 and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction. Her other novels include The Queen of the Tambourine (1991), a haunting tale about a woman's fascination with a mysterious stranger, which won the Whitbread Novel Award; Faith Fox (1996), a portrait of England in the 1990s; and The Flight of the Maidens (2000), set just after the Second World War, which narrates the story of three Yorkshire schoolgirls on the brink of university and adult life. This book was adapted for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. In 1999 Jane Gardam was awarded the Heywood Hill Literary Prize in recognition of a distinguished literary career.

Her non-fiction includes a book about the Yorkshire of her childhood in The Iron Coast (1994), published with photographs by Peter Burton and Harland Walshaw.

She also writes for children and young adults. Her novel Bilgewater (1977), originally written for children, has now been re-classified as adult fiction. She was awarded the Whitbread Children's Book Award for The Hollow Land (1981) and is the author of A Few Fair Days (1971), a collection of short stories for children set on a Cumberland farm, and two novels for teenagers, A Long Way From Verona (1971), which explores a wartime childhood in Yorkshire, and The Summer After the Funeral (1973), a story about a loss of innocence after the death of a father.

Jane Gardam is a member of PEN and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She is married with three children and divides her time between East Kent and Yorkshire. ...more